Holding relay



Nov. 3, 1953 w. VON STOESER 2,658,123

HOLDING RELAY Filed Sept. 14, 1950 Patented Nov. 3, 1953 HOLDING RELAY Walter Von Stoeser, Lake Villa, Ill., assignor to Lectromatic Devices, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application September 14, 1950, Serial No. 184,849

3 Claims.

The invention disclosed pertains to relays and like electromagnetically actuated switch devices, the particular improvements relating to the provision of a novel holding and releasing means by which the relay switches may be held in, and released from, their several operating conditions.

One of the more detailed features of the improvement resides in the provision of a holding type relay having a reciprocable plunger common to two solenoids for selective reciprocating by the same, and switches having spring blade parts adapted to operate as detents in notches in the plunger.

Additional objects and aspects of novelty and utility characterizing the improvements will appear as the following specification proceeds in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the relay;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the relay;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the relay;

Fig. 4 is a diagram for a holding circuit for the relay.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the relay structure includes a stamped mounting having a base portion H] with opposite upstanding end flanges H, on each of which is mounted a solenoid winding l2 or I 3, the solenoids having their respective bores in axial alignment to receive respectively the opposite magnetically attractable ends or core parts [2A and ISA of a plunger structure ill.

Means for limiting the reciprocatory movements of the plunger, and for maintaining the plunger in assembled condition, to include a pair of spring C washers l5 sprung into grooves closely adjacent switch detent notches I6 and it formed adjacent the aforesaid core parts I2A and I3A.

Struck-up from the base portion H) on opposite sides thereof are brackets IDA and IOB (Fig. 3), upon each of which is mounted respectively a stack switch I! or [8, preferably of the snapaction variety.

Each of said stack switches is provided with an actuator blade IIA, 18A, respectively, having corresponding plunger detents [1B and I8B, respectively engageable in the plunger notches I5 and I6 when the same are appropriately positioned by movements of the plunger means into the opposite positions.

Each notch formation It or IE is preferably a circumferential or annular groove in the plunger body l4, and each groove has a circumferential cam face 16X for the associated switch detent or pawl.

Thus the plungers may be made as simple screw machine parts, and may rotate freely in the bores of the coils I2 and I3.

Where magnetic heel pieces or plugs are used in the bores of the coils l2 and I3 to improve the magnetic circuit and eiiiciency, the C washers 15 may be omitted.

Each actuator blade IIA, or ISA, is associated, as at I10 or WC, with the snap-action assembly or" the corresponding switch, so that flexures of the actuator blades in movements of their respective detents into and out of the plunger notches, operate the associated snap-action switch means; and the latter may be calculated to operate only when the plunger I4 is displaced positively a certain distance.

The snap-action of the switches, plus the cam action of detents (as "3) on the annular cam face 5X, assists in positive positioning of the plunger.

A snap stack-switch suitable for use in this relay is shown in my U. S. Patent No. 2,500,476.

Illustrative of one application of the holding relay, is the circuit shown in Fig. 4, wherein the solenoid coils i2 and [3 each have one terminal grounded, and their respective remaining terminals connected through some type of normally open control switch I2X and MK to one of the snap-switch contact blades by conductors UK or I8X.

In this example, each snap switch has its middle contact blade connected, as by conductors NY and I8Y, respectively, to a source of power P, such as the grounded battery shown.

The remaining snap-switch contact blades are respectively connected, as by conductors HZ and I82, to grounded controlled devices A and B.

In operating the relay, energization of the appropriate solenoid I2 or l3 will cause the plunger to be attracted accordingly.

In the condition shown in Fig. 4, the core part IZA is already in attracted condition, and the snap switch [8 is actuated to condition an operating circuit for coil l3 via conductors I 55X and 1 SY provided the control switch |3X is closed (for instance, manually).

Under the conditions, closure of switch I3X will energize coil l3, attracting plunger core IQA until the detent I 13 drops into notch l 6, thereby actuating switch l8 to open the circuit via conductors 18X, MY and deenergize coil l 3.

As a further result of operation of snap-switch It, as aforesaid, an operating circuit for some desired controlled device B will now be closed via conductors 1 BY and M2.

The aforesaid movement oi. the plunger M will also open a circuit theretofore completed by the snap-switch [1 via conductors l'lY, Hz for another controlled device A, and will also condition an operating circuit for energization of solenoid coil 12 via conductors ITX, I'IY, if the control switch IZX is closed.

In the illustrative circuit, the coil I2 is supervised by the relay switch I1, and coil l3 by the relay switch I8, in such manner that once either coil is energized, it cannot again be energized until the other coil is energized to restore its supervisory operating circuit.

Thus, if the master control switch 12X has been operated, relay or snap switch I! willhave opened the supervisory holding circuit via conductors I'IX, llY, so that the-'rlaycannot again be operated until master "control'swltch I'3Xis first operated to actuate the other relay coil I3, to restore the condition of relay switch 1:1 and set up the circuit via conductors 11K and NY so that master switch IZX can once 'again be effective to energize the relay coil I2.

Other 'control cir cuit's for c'oils 12 and '53 may he used. -For example, coils 1:2 and 43 may be en'er'gized directly without any supervisory connections whatever through relay'swi-tc'hes l l and 18; and the latter fmay be utilized for anydesired control --purposes.

The relay structure disclosed is very stable in operation. 'There'is little load on the armature br plun'ger means 1 4,16; the-plunger is in effect flocked in itsoperated-positions bythe switches 11, I8 Land the latter do not operateunlessthere has been a' predetermined minimum displacement of the plunger.

Thelnumber 'o'f snapswitches is not'lim-ited to two, 'sin'ce theplunger means M'may be elongated to accommodate additional switches.

While the operation of the relay withsnapaction staclvswitcheszis highlysatis'iactory, or-

dinary vs"tack switches, having no snap-action mechani'sm, may be successfully-employed where desired, or'both-types may be used on-one relay.

By enlarging the length (axially) ofthe-grooves 46 and appropriatelypitching' the cam faces 16X, "the starting load on the plunger may be adjusted; and thesdepth or grooves l6 may be selected to minimize the l'oadingiefie'ctlof the spring i'blades HA, IA, and their detents while giving good indexing eife'ct Y to hold the plunger units opposite ,positions. Goodrswitch action may be had 'from relatively slight plunger displacements for= either the snap-action or'ordinary typefof: stack switch.

'I claim:

1. Aholding relay includinga base, oppositely facing integral end. plates on said base, a pair or axially aligned andspaced solenoids'mounted on said base, each ononeof "said plates, a plunger reciprocable in said solenoids responsive to alternate energization thereof integral flange means on said base on'opposite lateral sides of said plungenat-least' two stack switches one of each 'being'carried' on one of said'fla'nges to extend in approximate parallelism alongside said'plunger, at least two detent notches in said plunger one of the same being situated adjacent each solenoid, and each said switch-having an actuator blade with a free end opposite one of said notches with alateral' oifsetmo'vable' into and out of the corresponding notch and adapted to ride on said plunger'wh'ennotin the notch; said notches being situated such that reciprocatory movements of the plungerrresponsiveito energizations of the solenoids as aforesaid will cause said detents to ride' into and out of their'respective notches to actuate" the correspondingswitches.

2. In a relay, a base having a pair of upstanding oppositely-facing end flanges integral therewith, and a pair of upstanding side flanges each of which closely adjoins one of said end flanges but on opposite sides of the base; a pair of axially aligned solenoids each of which is mounted on one of said end "flanges; aireciprocable solenoid plunger having opposite end portions each movable in the bore of one of said solenoids, a stacktype spring-blade switch mounted on each side :flange with its blades extending in parallelism with said plunger with their respective free ends -situ'ated'closely adjacent the solenoid at the op- "posite end "of the :base, said plunger having two circumferential cam grooves therein one closely adjacent:each solenoid, each said switch including an actuator blade with a laterally offset cam rider near a free end thereof and riding said plunger and movable into and out of the cam groove remote therefrom-tooperate the switch in alternation as a result of displacements of said grooves responsive to .reciprocatory movements of thepl'unger, said grooves and camriders'being respectively spaced such that said switches are actuated-substantially simultaneouslybut in reverse sensesiresponsive to opposite movements of the plunger eifected by alternate energization of said solenoids.

.3. In a relay, aabase. stamping including a botz-tomportion having a-pair of integral, upset, con

fronting coil .flangeson oppositesides thereof, and a pair of integral switch flanges upset on .oppositesides of the bottom respectively-adjoin- 'ing' ithe two opposite sides on :which said coil iflan'ges'. are located, each said switchflang being contiguous :to dnecof said .coiIJfianges .but offset from each otherso as notato be in confronting alignment; a solenoidaco'il mounted: on each coil flange withitsrbore alignedzwith-the bore orthe opposite solenoidcoil; a. commonsolenoid plunger reciprooable in the bores of the solenoid coils, a stack-type spring-blade switch mounted on each-said switchiflangeand each having an operating blade withia. cam and' detent part riding on said tplunger adjacent one of said coils, said .plungerhaving a cam .and detent formation near .each said coil .for :coop.eration :with an adjacent .cam and detent part of one of. said switches, said plungerbeing adapted tobe oppositely attracted and .reciprocated ;by alternate .energization of said coils :to actuate. said switches. by camming cooperation of .the cama-nd detent parts thereof with correspondingncarnend detent formations on said plunger, said; plunger being, adapted: tobe releasably. held in ,bothrof' its, attracted positions :by engagement of .theecar'nand detent means of .eitherof said switches .with the corresponding .camzand'detent means .on the plunger.

EWALTER VON STOESER.

References Gited in-the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 292,687 Scott Jan.,29,1884 1,316,305 Hoeschen Sept. 16,1919 1,531,606 Grebe Mar. 31,1925 1,916,942 .Wrig'ht July 4,1933 1,933,548 LFinney Nov. 7,1933 2,057,380 Keefe Oct. 13,1936 2,081,015 Mullen et a1 May; 18, 1937 2,140,229 Hipsley Dec. 13,1938 2,235,010 Chaffee Mar.,18, 1941 

